Kidnapper - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
A kidnapper is a person who unlawfully takes someone away by force or deception, often to demand ransom or for other criminal purposes. It is a serious crime punishable by law.
Definition:
A person who unlawfully seizes and detains someone, typically for ransom.
Synonyms:
abductor, snatcher, captor
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
rescuer, liberator
Common Collocations:
notorious kidnapper, kidnapper's ransom, kidnapper's hideout
Derivatives:
kidnapping, kidnapped
Usage Tips:
Use "kidnapper" to describe someone who takes a person illegally; often involves ransom demands.
Common Phrases:
kidnapper at large, kidnapper's demand, kidnapper's plot
Etymology:
From "kid" (child) + "nap" (to seize), originating in 17th-century slang for stealing children.
Examples:
- 1. The police arrested the kidnapper before he could escape.
- 2. The kidnapper demanded a million dollars for the child's safe return.
- 3. She bravely escaped from the kidnapper’s hideout at night.
- 4. The kidnapper left a note threatening further harm if unpaid.